The Obsession

Chapter 2

                                                              CHAPTER TWO

         Madison rushed to shower and change before Joe's mother, Sue, arrived at the house with the kids. She slipped on an old black turtleneck and faded blue jeans. She carefully brushed her hair to conceal her battered ear and forehead and carefully applied her make-up to veil as much evidence as possible. When Madison finished disguising her bruises, she promptly straightened the house, swept up the broken glass and discarded the empty liquor bottles. She worked tirelessly to erase all the evidence of the thrashing from the previous night.

         Madison noticed she had overlooked a few slivers of broken glass just inside the front door. She returned from the utility room after retrieving the broom and dustpan again. She stopped dead in her tracks as she watched an envelope slide underneath the front door. Madison dropped the items in her hand at once and opened the door. The front porch was bare. Not a soul was there. How could anyone sneak away instantly? Within seconds?

         She surveyed the front yard. There were very few trees or shrubs, giving a hidden visitor very few places to hide. Madison crept to the end of the porch and peered around the corner of the house. Nothing. No one. She went back to the house mystified.

         She bent down and collected the small white envelope. She studied it momentarily before closing the door and returning inside. She turned the envelope over to reveal one word typed on the front:

                                                                  MADISON

         Madison was unable to contain her curiosity. She ripped open the plain envelope. Inside was a small piece of paper attached to a photograph. The note read:

                                                                 Be Careful

                                                         Someone is watching you.

         Madison was temporarily hesitant. She took a deep breath before she tore off the note to reveal the photo. She stood frozen in shock. Stunned. Stunned by what she was seeing. The picture showed her lying lifeless on the living room floor beaten and bloody. Unconscious. It had been taken inside of her house. Someone had actually stood over her body and taken this picture. Who would have done this? And why?

         Madison was extremely alarmed when she detected a rousing from the bedroom. She paused. Her heart raced rapidly in fear. Anxiety creeping up her body as she anxiously awaited to see what Joe was going to do. Would he merely roll over and go back to sleep? Would he wake in another fit of madness? Or would he pretend as though nothing had transpired?

         Joe abruptly leaped from the bed and raced into the kitchen. He appeared to be extremely agitated. He began scouring through each cabinet and drawer, anxiously slinging anything that was in his way thoughtlessly to the tile floor. With a determined look on his face he returned to the bedroom acting as if she was not even there.

         Madison quickly hid the distressing note and photograph. She would have to wait until later to check into the unnerving warning. It was sick. Demented. It didn't make any sense.

         She could hear him rummaging through their closets and dresser. What was he looking for, she wondered? She did not dare say a word in fear that she would create another altercation. Madison quietly listened as Joe cursed under his breath while relentlessly tearing apart their bedroom. Suddenly, he concluded his search.